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The differences between benefits managers and benefits consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a benefits manager and a benefits consultant. Additionally, a benefits consultant has an average salary of $79,068, which is higher than the $64,064 average annual salary of a benefits manager.
The top three skills for a benefits manager include HR, customer service and HRIS. The most important skills for a benefits consultant are HR, customer service, and life insurance.
| Benefits Manager | Benefits Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $64,064 | $79,068 |
| Hourly rate | $30.80 | $38.01 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,164 | 19,308 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A benefits manager is primarily in charge of overseeing and handling a company's benefits programs and projects for employees. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with human resources to gather accurate data, improve existing benefits programs, and creating new ones in adherence to the company's policies and regulations. A benefits manager may also liaise with external agencies, develop activities for employee welfare, and resolve any issues regarding the benefits programs. Furthermore, they may perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, manage budgets, and maintain records of all transactions.
Benefits consultants are executives who carry out many services for individuals and businesses. The consultants draft and organize policies within the organization. They handle vendors and manage the renewal of negotiations of HMO plans. It is their job to establish agency relationships with marketing representatives. They coordinate programs that involve self-funded or administered long-term and short-term disability, life insurance, and a cafeteria plan. Also, they prepare enterprises to meet health care law changes.
Benefits managers and benefits consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Benefits Manager | Benefits Consultant | |
| Average salary | $64,064 | $79,068 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $104,000 | Between $51,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | New York |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | BMO Capital Markets |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a benefits manager and a benefits consultant in terms of educational background:
| Benefits Manager | Benefits Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between benefits managers' and benefits consultants' demographics:
| Benefits Manager | Benefits Consultant | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% | Male, 46.7% Female, 53.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 8.0% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 35% | 35% |